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Which metro areas in Washington are people moving to?

Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA (5.9 per 1,000 residents), Kennewick-Richland, WA (4.1 per 1,000 residents) and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA (3.1 per 1,000 residents) drew the most people from the rest of the U.S. for their size among Washington metro areas in 2025.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 6 ranked Washington metro areas

Washington metro areas ranked by net domestic migration per 1,000 residents
RankMetro areaPer 1,000 residents, 2025Net movers 2025Residents
1Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA5.9+762128,414
2Kennewick-Richland, WA4.1+1,338324,334
3Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA3.1+1,908608,012
4Lewiston, ID-WA2.4+15465,450
5Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA0.0+602,542,282
6Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA−2.0−8,4224,161,883

How this is ranked

Net domestic migration from the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025: people who moved in from the rest of the U.S. minus people who moved out, per 1,000 residents. Moves between the area's own counties cancel out; moves from and to other countries are not included. Only metropolitan statistical areas of two or more counties are ranked (OMB Bulletin 23-01): a one-county area's figures are its county's, and micro areas are left out. Areas without a figure for the same period as the others are not ranked. An area that crosses a state line is ranked in each of its states.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built.

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Questions

Which metro area in Washington gains the most people from the rest of the country?

Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA: 5.9 per 1,000 residents, ahead of Kennewick-Richland, WA (4.1 per 1,000 residents) and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA (3.1 per 1,000 residents), of 6 Washington metro areas ranked.

How is this ranking calculated?

Net domestic migration from the Census Bureau's population estimates for 2025: people who moved in from the rest of the U.S. minus people who moved out, per 1,000 residents. Moves between the area's own counties cancel out; moves from and to other countries are not included. Only metropolitan statistical areas of two or more counties are ranked (OMB Bulletin 23-01): a one-county area's figures are its county's, and micro areas are left out. Areas without a figure for the same period as the others are not ranked. An area that crosses a state line is ranked in each of its states.

More metro rankings for Washington

Metro net domestic migration per 1,000 residents in other states

Across the U.S.